The swordtail fish is a North American native freshwater fish. They’re commonly kept in aquariums and tanks in people’s homes all around the world. Swordtails are known for being ravenous eaters, so if your swordtails aren’t eating much, there could be an issue. So, why isn’t your swordtail fish eating?
Pregnancy, constipation, improper water parameters, huge food size, diseases, infections, overfeeding, and other factors might cause swordtail fish to stop eating for an extended period.
This article will discuss the top seven reasons your swordtail fish isn’t eating and how to get them to eat on their own again.
Reasons Why Swordtail Fish Are Not Eating
Swordtails are simple to keep and feed. Owners, on the other hand, occasionally report that their swordtail fish aren’t eating. There are several causes for this, which we will discuss in detail in this article.
Pregnancy in Swordtail Fish
A pregnant female swordtail fish is one of the most common reasons she refuses to eat! Unfortunately, determining whether or not your female swordtail fish has been impregnated can be difficult. So, if you think your swordtail fish might be pregnant, there are a few things you can do to find out.
Digestive Problems And Constipation
Constipation and intestinal problems may cause swordtail fish to cease feeding. Also, after giving birth to a big litter of fry, a female swordtail fish will be less motivated to eat. However, this is a typical occurrence in all species, so don’t be alarmed if your swordtail fish does not eat for a few days after birth.
Bad Water Parameters
Water factors are crucial when it comes to figuring out why a swordtail fish is refusing to eat. Ensure that the water temperature remains constant at roughly 75°F. To avoid digestive troubles with your swordtail fish, keep the pH level between seven and eight.
New Surroundings
It can take a long for your swordtail fish to “feel at home” in a new setting, which might cause stress or anxiety, causing them to refuse to eat correctly. As a result, you might want to keep your swordtail fish in a separate tank for two to three weeks before adding other fish. They will be able to adjust to their new surroundings in this manner.
Bullying & Anxiety
If your female swordtail fish is in the same tank as another more aggressive or larger fish, she may refuse to eat since the other fish are bullying her. You can remedy this issue by putting your female swordtail fish in a separate tank or mixing her with other submissive swordtails that won’t force or harass her.
Food Of The Wrong Kind
If you’re feeding your swordtail fish the wrong kind of food, they may refuse to eat. Make sure your swordtail fish only gets fresh, nutritious food, like live or frozen brine shrimp. If you don’t feel safe feeding your live fish animals, high-quality freeze-dried flakes will suffice.
A female swordtail fish may also refuse to eat if the food you’re presenting is too large for her to swallow. Break the meal into tiny pieces so they can quickly finish their meal in less than a minute.
Infections And Diseases
Your swordtail fish may refuse to eat if it has an illness or infection. Check the colors of your swordtail fish’s scales, gills, and eyes for any discoloration to see whether they have an infection or disease. If you see anything out of the ordinary on these body parts, take your fish to a pet store that sells aquarium supplies and have them examine it.
Overfeeding
If you overfeed your swordtail fish, they can stop eating! Therefore, ensure you feed your fish enough food to whet their appetite but not so much that they don’t eat within an hour. It would be beneficial to provide your fish as many times as it can manage throughout the day, i.e., twice a day.
Thus, these are some of the possible reasons why your swordtail fish might not be eating.
How Can I Get My Swordtail Fish To Eat?
Food plays a vital role in the growth, development, and well-being of swordtails. As a result, it’s critical to make sure the swordtail fish diet is healthful and nutritious. For the best outcomes, you’ll also want to make sure it’s well-timed.
Some suggestions for getting your swordtail fish to eat include:
Treat Infections And Diseases
If your swordtail fish isn’t eating, they may be sick. In that circumstance, the best course of action is to cure any diseases or infections developed in their bodies. This way, you won’t have as much trouble getting them back on track with their regular feeding schedule.
Maintain Water Parameters
It’s critical to keep your tank’s water parameters in good shape because if they’re not, you can’t expect your fish to be healthy. Furthermore, if their habitat is well-maintained and sanitary, you will have a far better chance of encouraging them to eat.
Take Care Of A Swordtail Fish That Is Pregnant
It is critical to ensure that pregnant fish receive adequate nutrients and food. As a result, make sure your tank has sufficient food for all of the swordtails and, if required, feed them directly. Also, remember to keep her away from any bullies or aggressive fish who could injure or stress her out.
Separate The Bully
If you have a particularly aggressive swordtail, you should isolate them by giving them their tank or food bowl. Then, they won’t be able to bully the other fish in your aquarium and cause difficulties for them this way.
Treat Digestive Disorders
There are occasions when a swordtail will not eat due to digestive issues. In this scenario, you must ensure that they receive the appropriate medication and treatment to get their digestive system back on track. Again, you can seek advice from your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
What’s the Best Food For Swordtail Fish That Won’t Eat?
If your fish refuses to eat, you’ll have to alter their food to get them to eat again. The following are some of the best foods that they might enjoy:
- Live foods
- Flakes of worms/shrimp or freeze-dried worms/shrimp or pellets
- Swordtail fish eat bloodworms, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, and daphnia, among other things.
- Algae and veggies
However, because of the high-fat content, you should only feed these once a week to avoid causing obesity in your fish. Again you can have them as a treat now and then.
Tubifex worms are also popular with swordtails, but they are not the healthiest option for your fish because they might contain diseases that could harm them and other aquatic animals in your aquarium.
How To Feed Your Swordtail Fish?
It’s ideal for feeding your fish first thing in the morning or shortly before bedtime. They will have more time to digest their food and will be more active during the day. Every day, give your swordtail fish a tiny bit of food. Feed them a good quality flake or pellet fish food once in the morning and once at night.
Also, make sure you’re not overfeeding them, as this can be a significant issue. Please make sure you only feed your fish the amount of food they require so you don’t pollute the water or accumulate an excessive amount of waste.
FAQs
What Does Swordtail Fry Eat?
A properly balanced diet is vital for the fish’s growth and development. Their growth stage determines the type of food they require. In the wild, swordtail fry feeds on mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, and algae. On the other hand, Pet fry requires more attention, and you should feed them a mixture of commercial food, such as pellets, frozen food, such as bloodworms, and vegetables.
How Long Can Swordtails Go Without Food?
A Swordtail fish can live for 1 to 2 weeks without food. As a result, try not to overfeed them while feeding them before leaving the house, and provide them once or twice a day. You may want to use an automatic fish feeder or a vacation feeder/pyramid while away from home if they are too young to eat solid foods in the specified period.
Conclusion
Finally, if your swordtail isn’t eating, it could be due to various factors like pregnancy, poor water quality, and more. If this happens to you, don’t panic; in my blog post today, I covered all of the most common reasons they aren’t eating, so keep reading if you want to learn more.